Surrey Police Service appoints five more inspectors, including Bal Brach

SURREY Police Service (SPS) on Thursday announced the appointment of five new members to the leadership team. 

With a blend of both municipal and RCMP and a depth of operational, investigative, and community policing experience, Bal Brach, Cliff Chastellaine, Jeff Harris, Jeff Metcalfe and Dawn Richards are the newest inspectors hired by SPS. 

“These officers are key additions in building the infrastructure of the organization,” said SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. “Bringing a diverse and varied level of experience, they will assist in shaping the strategies for a community-centered policing model readying SPS for boots on the ground.” 

The transition from a federal policing model to a local model is a complex and multifaceted initiative that is being strategically and methodically planned in partnership with key stakeholders at the municipal, provincial, and federal level and each new team member brought on has specific accountabilities and duties related to the transition plan, the deployment model and the building of policies and standards, according to the SPS.

“As I have said since the outset of assuming the role of Chief, the transfer of policing responsibility will happen in an orderly and efficient manner. It will be done right, not fast and I am confident that Bal, Cliff, Jeff, Jeff and Dawn are going to be as committed to success as the rest of my team.”

Inspector Bal Brach

* Inspector Brach, a police officer for 25 years, joins SPS from his current role, as the Superintendent Senior Investigative Services Officer, Lower Mainland District RCMP, where he is responsible for integrated policing units throughout the Lower Mainland, including Emergency Response Team (ERT), Forensics (IFIS), Collision Analysts and Reconstruction (ICARS) and Major Case Investigations. Inspector Brach brings his unique experience and perspective to Surrey Police Service having worked extensively with several different communities and policing agencies (RCMP and municipal alike) throughout the Lower Mainland. 

Inspector Cliff Chastellaine

* From RCMP Auxiliary Constable to Superintendent, Chastellaine continues his pursuit to make a difference in serving Surrey, the community in which he lives. In his 25-year career with the RCMP he has worked across the Province of BC, Ottawa and Iqaluit, Nunavut. Inspector Chastellaine has extensive experience in front-line patrol, major crime, commercial crime and national security investigations. As the Superintendent, BC-RCMP Major Crime Section, he is the Operations officer for the Special Projects Unit, Unsolved Homicide Unit, Polygraph Unit, Interview Team, and Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT).

Inspector Jeff Harris

* Inspector Harris began policing in 1987 with the RCMP in Saskatchewan before joining the Vancouver Police Department in August 1991. He has a broad range of experience that spans across many policing specialty services including, Emergency Response Team, Emergency Operation & Planning Section, Professional Standards and Education and Training Sections.  He not only served to protect the public he also focused on officer wellness having served on the Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) where he helped many members recover from their involvement in traumatic incidents. Inspector Harris is presently the Duty Officer in the Operations Division at Vancouver Police Department.

Inspector Jeff Metcalfe

* A 24-year member of the RCMP, Inspector Metcalfe is no stranger to Surrey having served for a period of time at Surrey Detachment in general duty patrol, bike patrol section, serious crime and auto theft. Although his career took him across the Province, he is proud to continue to serve the community he resides in as an Inspector with the Surrey Police Service. Inspector Metcalfe is presently the Divisional Duty Officer, BC-RCMP Criminal Operations. Prior to this, he was the Officer in Charge of RCMP Digital Forensic Services.  

Inspector Dawn Richards

* Inspector Richards began her career in law enforcement with Canada Immigration at the Vancouver Airport prior to transitioning to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in 1998, initially working in the entertainment and downtown eastside districts. She worked her way through the ranks and is currently the District Command Inspector-Operations Division.  As her career advanced, she worked extensively in VPD’s Investigation Division, targeting organized crime, working complex gang investigations and projects while in the Gang Crime Unit, Homicide and Robbery Assault sections, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC). Additionally, she has done much work in specialty areas including child exploitation, domestic violence, human trafficking and led VPD in Trauma Informed Practices, developing and providing training opportunities and ensuring all section members better understood child and adult trauma and its impact.

“With strong leadership in place, our next step is to focus on building up the Recruiting Unit and begin the hiring process for the Staff Sergeant and Sergeant ranks. In the coming months we will begin the recruiting process for experienced constables and new recruits having established the terms and conditions for all ranks,” said Lipinski. “We are moving forward and anxious to begin community consultation on shaping the policing priorities with the community, in the coming months as our foundational work progresses.”

For more information and to make application with the Surrey Police Service, visit https://www.surreypolice.ca/careers.

Backgrounder: Professional Bios

Bal Brach: Inspector Brach started his career with the North Vancouver RCMP in 1996 and worked in various investigative roles, including the Integrated Sexual Predator Offender Team, before transferring to the Waterfront Joint Forces Operation to gain experience in international drug trafficking. He has worked throughout the Lower Mainland both in integrated units and detachments that include BC Integrated Gang Task Force, Surrey Detachment, where he was in charge of a Major Crimes Investigation Team, and Ridge Meadows Detachment as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. At the time he obtained his Officer Commission he returned to North Vancouver where Inspector Brach continued as a member of the Senior Leadership Team with oversight of all specialized investigative teams, community policing and the Integrated First Nations Policing Unit.

Inspector Brach last worked as the Superintendent Investigative Services Officer for all Lower Mainland Detachments before retiring from the RCMP to join the Surrey Police Service. Inspector Brach has received the Commanding Officer’s Commendation for outstanding service and has a Diploma in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of General Studies from Thompson Rivers University. He was born in India and is fluent in Punjabi and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Cliff Chastellaine: Inspector Chastellaine has 25 years of police service. His career has taken him through out the Province of BC including Pemberton, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Victoria, and Surrey Detachment. Inspector Chastellaine has also served in Iqaluit, Nunavut, the RCMP NHQ in Ottawa and most recently the Major Crime Section for the BC RCMP.  He has worked front-line policing as a patrol NCO and Watch Commander and on Emergency Response Teams as a member and Team Leader.  

The focus of his service has been working within Investigative Services including Major Crime, Serious Crime, General Investigation, and National Security.  Inspector Chastellaine was previously the Major Crime Senior Investigator at Surrey Detachment overseeing Serious Crime, General Investigation Unit, Missing Persons, Special Projects, Unsolved Homicide, Legal Application Support Team and Interview Team. Inspector Chastellaine is an Accredited Team Commander and member of the ‘E’ Division Major Case Management Committee.   He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary, a Certificate in Change Leadership from Cornell University, and resides in South Surrey with his family. 

Jeff Harris: Jeff Harris began policing in 1987 with the RCMP in Saskatchewan. His time there included two years living on the Pelican Narrows Reserve, before joining the Vancouver Police Department in August 1991.

He worked his way through the ranks from Constable to Inspector, having served in a cross-section of specialized areas in policing throughout his career which include, patrol, ERT, Force Options Unit, Professional Standards (both as an investigator and later a Discipline Authority) After his promotion to Inspector in 2016, he  served as Inspector/Discipline Authority in the Professional Standards Section until 2017 when he became the Duty Officer in the Operations Division where he continued until he left to join the Surrey Police Service. 

Along the way, Jeff has remained a member of the Public Safety Unit, deploying in every role from member through Section Leader, Tactical Advisor, and as the Public Order Commander. He played key roles in resolving several high-profile incidents.  In addition, he served on the Critical Incident Stress Management Team where he helped many members recover from their involvement in traumatic incidents.  

Inspector Harris has received the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Valour, two City of Vancouver Service Awards, two Chief Constable’s Awards for Bravery, has shared in three Chief Constable’s Unit Citations, and recently a Chief Constable’s Award for his leadership and decision making during an attempted murder/arson incident.  He holds a pilot’s license, a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology, Diploma in Police Leadership, and is a recognized (Provincial Court) Use of Force Expert. 

Jeff Metcalfe: Inspector Metcalfe completed a degree in mechanical engineering (Bachelor of Science in Engineering) at Queen’s University in 1996, before joining the RCMP in 1997.   From training at Depot, his first posting was to Kelowna Detachment. After three years he requested a transfer to the Lower Mainland, specifically Surrey where he served in General Duty, Bike Patrol, Serious Crime and Auto Theft.   In preparation for the 2010 Olympics Inspector Metcalfe became one of the Operational Planners and was responsible for developing the security plan for the Athletes’ Village in Vancouver. This posting was a career highlight. Following the Olympics, he assumed the role of Operations NCO and became the Officer in Charge of the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) where he oversaw the Bait Car Program and managed a team of investigators.   Although he left Surrey Detachment in 2007, he would return in 2013 as a Duty Officer. After three short years, he would assume the role of Operations Officer at Coquitlam Detachment.

In 2017 he was offered an opportunity he could not pass up as the first commissioned officer in charge of the growing Digital Forensics Services team for E Division. Here he oversaw a team of digital evidence specialists who were experts in the field of accessing data from a varied collection of digital devices. In 2020 he would return to front line operations as a Divisional Duty Officer, managing priority incidents through the province. For Inspector Metcalfe, Surrey has always been a draw for him both to serve and live. He currently lives in the Surrey area and has since 2002. It is in this city that he is raising his family.   He is proud to return to serve the citizens of this great city as an Inspector with the Surrey Police Service. 

Dawn Richards: Inspector Dawn Richards began her career in law enforcement with Canada Immigration before becoming a police officer with Vancouver Police Department in 1998. Although starting in patrol (in the entertainment and downtown eastside districts of Vancouver), she was transferred to the Investigation Division, targeting organized crime while in the Gang Crime Unit, Homicide and Robbery Assault Sections, and CFSEU. In 2013, Inspector Richards received the Lieutenant Governor’s Meritorious Service Award for her impact on gang activity after leading investigations such as Project Torrent, a murder conspiracy and firearms investigation involving the most violent and prolific gang members in Vancouver, to a successful conclusion with firearm/drug seizures and 86 convictions against a dozen gang members.   

Inspector Richards has led many teams including, a patrol team in the downtown eastside, detectives in the Sex Crimes-Child Abuse Unit and Human Source Handling Unit before becoming the Staff Sergeant in the Special Investigation Section where she remained after being promoted to Inspector. She has to her credit, recently secured funding for an embedded victim service worker in the Sex Crime Unit and enhanced resources in the Internet Child Exploitation and Youth Advocacy Center. In January 2021, she returned to her roots in operations as a District Commander.